24 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



Incubation. — About a month. 



Courtship. — The male leans his head back and raises 

 his tail, but does not spread it. 



Food. — Leaves, fruit, nuts, insects, etc. They feed 

 partly in the trees, and partly on the ground, where 

 they scratch like fowls. 



Gait. — A walk or run ; they are very active among the 

 boughs. 



Flight.— Heavy and direct ; not protracted very far. 



Note. — A whistle or cackle. 



Disposition and Habits. — Intelligent and wary ; de- 

 cidedly inclined to be spiteful. They bite hard, 

 besides striking with the feet. 



Economic Qualities. — ^Their flesh is good eating, and 

 they are therefore esteemed as game. 



Captivity. — They do well, but seldom breed ; they are 

 very tame nevertheless. 



Distribution and Important Species. — The species 

 of this family — about fifty — are found in warm 

 parts of America only, in wooded country. There 

 are three sub-families : the Curassows {Cracince), 

 with stout bills, and all of large size ; the Derbian 

 Curassow (Oreophasince) , with medium bill and 

 a stout horn on the forehead ; and the Guans 

 (PenelopincB), with slight bills and no protuberance 

 thereon. The Curassows are often seen in cap- 

 tivity in menageries, and several are familiar, 

 especially the Globose Curassow (Crax alector), 

 black in the male, with a yellow knob on the bill ; 

 brown in the female ; of the Guans one, the 

 Chacalacca {Ortalis vetula), sl drab bird of the size 

 of a hen pheasant, is well known in Mexico and 

 Texas. The family is closely allied to the game- 

 birds. 



